PARENTS are defying the school “lunchbox police” and giving their children banned favourite sweet treats.

A report said yesterday there is a rebellion among parents against moves by schools to make pupils stick to a healthy diet. Teachers have even confiscated “naughty” food.

More than one in four parents who send children to school with a packed lunch admitted they had broken guidelines over the contents. Crisps, chocolate and biscuits were the most popular illicit foods. Crisps had been slipped into lunchboxes by 54 per cent of parents and 47 per cent had packed frowned-upon chocolate bars.

Schools are set strict guidelines and at times they are enforced with an iron fist

The Grocer

A survey of 1,189 parents was carried out by YouGov for trade magazine The Grocer and Bacofoil. More than a third said schools should not control what children eat, although 38 per cent said they packed fruit.

The Grocer said: “Our kids are being watched. Schools are set strict guidelines and at times they are enforced with an iron fist."